This 10-Day Casablanca to Sahara desert tour offers a comprehensive journey through Morocco’s most captivating landscapes and cultural treasures. Starting from Casablanca‘s modern Atlantic coastline and ending in vibrant Marrakech, you’ll experience the blue streets of Chefchaouen, the ancient medina of Fes, the dramatic High Atlas Mountains, and the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi.
As a private Morocco tour from Casablanca, this itinerary provides flexibility, comfort, and authentic cultural immersion. You’ll travel with an experienced English-speaking guide who ensures smooth navigation through Morocco’s diverse regions while sharing local insights that enhance every destination.
Recognized as one of the most booked Morocco itineraries in last 2 years, this tour balances iconic landmarks with genuine local experiences, combining adventure with cultural discovery in a well-paced journey that showcases the best of North to South Morocco.
✔️ Private air-conditioned 4×4 or minivan
✔️ Professional, multilingual driver-guide
✔️ 9 nights accommodation in carefully selected hotels, riads, and desert camp
✔️ Daily breakfast at all accommodations
✔️ Dinners in Merzouga and Boumalne-Dades
✔️ Camel trekking experience in Merzouga (one camel per person)
✔️ Overnight stay in luxury desert camp with private en-suite tent
✔️ Professional guided tours in Fes, Marrakech, and major sites
✔️ Airport/Hotel transfers or pickup in Casablanca and drop-off in Marrakech
✔️ Bottled water during the tour
✔️ All fuel, road tolls, and vehicle insurance
✖️ Flight tickets
(Book your flights easily here.)
✖️ Lunches & Dinners except in Merzouga & Boumalne-Dades.
✖️ Entrance fees to monuments and attractions
✖️ Tips & personal expenses
This carefully designed Morocco desert tour with camel ride takes you beyond typical tourist routes. In Chefchaouen, you’ll have time to photograph the blue-washed buildings and interact with local artisans. The visit to Fes includes guided navigation through the complex medina where traditional crafts like leather tanning and tile-making continue as they have for centuries.
The journey south reveals Morocco’s geographic diversity. You’ll pass through Middle Atlas cedar forests, descend into palm-filled oases, and arrive at the Sahara where the landscape transforms completely. Your camel trek into the dunes takes place during golden hour when the sand glows in warm tones, followed by an evening in a luxury desert camp that combines authentic Berber traditions with modern comfort.
Throughout the 10-Day Casablanca to Sahara desert tour, you’ll experience both guided cultural insights and free time for personal exploration. Whether photographing kasbahs in Dades Valley, shopping in medina souks, or simply enjoying mint tea with valley views, this itinerary provides space for your own discoveries alongside structured experiences.
Tour Highlights
Highlights: Hassan II Mosque • Corniche • City orientation
Your Morocco adventure begins with arrival in Casablanca. Meet your private guide and visit the spectacular Hassan II Mosque, whose 210-meter minaret towers over the Atlantic Ocean. This architectural masterpiece features intricate Moroccan craftsmanship including hand-carved marble, detailed tilework, and cedarwood ceilings. The mosque welcomes non-Muslim visitors, offering a rare opportunity to experience its interior beauty.
Walk along the Corniche, Casablanca’s oceanfront promenade where locals gather, especially at sunset. Depending on your arrival time, you may visit Rick’s Café, the cinema-inspired restaurant and bar. Settle into your accommodation and receive a tour briefing from your guide.
Highlights: Rabat’s Kasbah of the Udayas • Hassan Tower • Arrival in Chefchaouen
Depart for Morocco’s capital, Rabat, where you’ll explore key historical sites. The Kasbah of the Udayas offers panoramic river views and features beautiful Andalusian gardens. Visit Hassan Tower, an incomplete minaret from the 12th century, and the adjacent Mohammed V Mausoleum, which showcases exemplary Moroccan architectural design.
Continue north through the Rif Mountains to Chefchaouen. Arrive in the late afternoon with time to begin exploring the blue-painted medina. The mountain setting and distinctive blue architecture create exceptional photography opportunities.
Highlights: Blue medina exploration • Ras El Maa waterfall • Mountain viewpoints • Local crafts
Enjoy a full day to discover Chefchaouen at your own pace. The blue-washed buildings create a unique atmosphere perfect for photography and leisurely exploration. Visit the main square, Plaza Uta el-Hammam, surrounded by cafés and the Grand Mosque.
Walk to Ras El Maa, a waterfall and spring where locals gather. For panoramic views, hike to the Spanish Mosque overlooking the town and surrounding valleys. Browse artisan shops selling handwoven textiles, leather goods, and traditional crafts. The relaxed pace allows you to experience the town’s charm without rushing.
Highlights: Volubilis Roman ruins • Imperial Meknes • Arrival in Fes
Travel south to Volubilis, Morocco’s best-preserved Roman archaeological site and a UNESCO World Heritage location. Explore the ancient city’s ruins including well-maintained mosaics, columns, and the Triumphal Arch. The site provides insight into Roman North Africa with stunning Atlas Mountain backdrops.
Continue to Meknes, one of Morocco’s four imperial cities. Visit Bab Mansour, an ornate gate considered among North Africa’s finest, and explore the historical granaries that once stored provisions for the sultan’s armies. Arrive in Fes by evening, where the call to prayer echoes across the ancient medina.
Highlights: Fes el-Bali medina • Chouara Tannery • Al-Qarawiyyin • Artisan quarters
Discover Fes el-Bali, the world’s largest car-free urban zone and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your local guide navigates the 9,000+ alleyways, revealing hidden gems and explaining the medina’s complex layout and history.
Visit the famous Chouara Tannery where leather has been processed using traditional methods for centuries. View the colorful dye vats from surrounding terraces. Explore the Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque complex, home to the world’s oldest continuously operating university founded in 859 CE.
Walk through specialized souks where artisans create copper work, carpets, pottery, and zellige tilework. Visit craft workshops to observe traditional techniques passed through generations. The day includes breaks at strategic viewpoints for rest and reflection.
Highlights: Ifrane • Cedar Forest • Ziz Valley • First view of Sahara dunes
Begin the journey south through varied landscapes. Stop in Ifrane, known for its European-style architecture and clean mountain air. Continue through the Cedar Forest where Barbary macaques inhabit the ancient trees—keep a safe distance while observing these native primates.
Pass through the Middle Atlas town of Midelt, then descend through the Ziz Valley. This river oasis creates a green corridor through otherwise arid terrain, with fortified ksour (fortified villages) dotting the landscape. As you approach Merzouga, the Erg Chebbi dunes appear on the horizon, signaling your arrival at the Sahara.
Highlights: Desert sunrise • Nomad community visit • Camel trekking • Luxury camp • Stargazing
Wake for optional sunrise over the dunes. After breakfast, visit a local nomad family to learn about traditional desert life and Berber culture. Understand how communities have adapted to Sahara conditions across generations.
In late afternoon, begin your camel trek into Erg Chebbi. The journey takes approximately 90 minutes as you traverse the sand dunes during the most photogenic hours. The changing light creates dramatic shadows and warm tones across the landscape.
Arrive at your luxury desert camp where private tents feature comfortable beds, quality linens, and en-suite bathrooms. Enjoy a traditional Moroccan dinner followed by Berber music around the campfire. The absence of light pollution reveals an exceptional night sky with clearly visible Milky Way.
Highlights: Desert sunrise • Todra Gorges • Berber villages • Dades Valley
Experience one final Sahara sunrise before breakfast. Depart the desert, traveling toward the High Atlas Mountains. Stop at Todra Gorges where limestone canyon walls rise 300 meters, creating a dramatic narrow passage. Walk through the gorge and feel the temperature change in the shade of the towering cliffs.
Continue through small Berber villages and the Valley of Roses, known for its spring rose harvest used to produce rosewater. Arrive in Dades Valley, famous as the Route of 1000 Kasbahs where traditional fortified structures line the landscape. The earthen architecture blends seamlessly with the surrounding geology.
Highlights: Dades Gorges • Ait Ben Haddou • Ouarzazate • Tizi n’Tichka pass
Drive through Dades Gorges with its distinctive rock formations. Continue through the Valley of Roses toward Ouarzazate, known as Morocco’s cinema capital. Visit Ait Ben Haddou, the UNESCO World Heritage kasbah that has served as a filming location for numerous productions including Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, and Game of Thrones.
Explore the fortified village and climb to the upper levels for panoramic views across the Ounila Valley. The ksar remains partially inhabited, with families maintaining traditional lifestyles within the ancient walls.
Continue over Tizi n’Tichka pass, crossing the High Atlas at 2,260 meters elevation. The winding mountain road offers spectacular views before descending into the Marrakech plains. Arrive in the Red City by evening with time to visit Jemaa el-Fnaa square.
Highlights: Koutoubia Mosque • Bahia Palace • Souks • Jemaa el-Fnaa
Your final day explores Marrakech’s main attractions. Visit Koutoubia Mosque, whose minaret serves as the city’s most recognizable landmark. Explore Bahia Palace with its ornate courtyards, painted ceilings, and detailed tile work representing 19th-century Moroccan architecture.
Navigate the souks where vendors sell traditional crafts, spices, leather goods, and textiles. The labyrinthine market quarters offer endless shopping opportunities. For a peaceful contrast, visit Majorelle Garden, the botanical garden featuring distinctive blue buildings and exotic plant collections.
Conclude at Jemaa el-Fnaa square where food stalls, musicians, storytellers, and performers create an energetic atmosphere, especially after sunset. Transfer to the airport according to your departure schedule.
Spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November) offer optimal weather conditions with comfortable temperatures throughout Morocco. Summer (June-August) brings high temperatures in the Sahara, though mornings and evenings remain pleasant. Winter (December-February) provides cooler desert nights and possible High Atlas snow, with fewer tourists and excellent photography light. Each season offers distinct advantages depending on your preferences.
Yes, this private 10-Day Casablanca to Sahara tour adapts well to family needs. The itinerary balances educational experiences with adventure, and private transportation ensures comfort for all ages. Children typically enjoy the camel trekking and desert camping most. Families find the tour suitable for children aged 6 and above, though younger children can be accommodated with itinerary adjustments.
The luxury desert camp in Merzouga features private tents with comfortable beds, quality bedding, en-suite bathrooms with hot showers, and traditional Moroccan décor. The camp includes a dining tent serving multi-course meals, communal lounge areas, and attentive staff. It provides an authentic desert experience with modern amenities.
Daily driving ranges from 2-6 hours depending on the route segment. The longest drive (Fes to Merzouga at approximately 7 hours) includes multiple sightseeing stops, meal breaks, and rest opportunities. As a private tour, you have flexibility to request additional stops for photography or comfort. The varied landscapes maintain visual interest throughout the journey.
Yes, dietary restrictions including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and food allergies can be accommodated. Please inform us at booking so we can coordinate with all accommodations and the desert camp. Moroccan cuisine naturally includes many vegetarian options, and most special requirements are easily managed with advance notice.
As a solo female traveler, I appreciated the professionalism and safety of this private tour format. The balance of guided experiences and independent exploration time worked perfectly. Fes required the structured approach with a knowledgeable guide, while Chefchaouen allowed for personal discovery. The accommodations, including the Fes riad and desert camp, were excellent. Ahmed, our driver, was extremely patient and knowledgeable about photography locations. The High Atlas scenery was breathtaking. This Morocco desert tour with camel ride provided genuine cultural immersion alongside comfortable travel. Already planning my return visit to explore Morocco’s southern regions further.
Our 10-day Morocco itinerary from Casablanca exceeded expectations in every way. The guide Hassan provided excellent historical context and cultural insights at each location. Chefchaouen’s blue architecture was stunning, Fes offered fascinating complexity, and the Sahara experience was unforgettable. The camel trek at sunset and overnight in the luxury desert camp created memories we’ll cherish. The pacing felt perfect—we covered significant ground without feeling rushed. The accommodations were all well-chosen, comfortable properties. Highly recommend this comprehensive tour for anyone wanting to experience Morocco’s diversity.
